Types of Fungal Infection

Fungal infections are a common occurrence that can affect various parts of our body. While it might sound daunting, it’s important to understand about different types of fungal infections along with the diagnosis.

Fungi can be common and lead to not-so-severe ailments like athlete’s foot or thrush, affecting the mouth and other body parts. On the other hand, severe infections like invasive aspergillosis can even be life-threatening.

Most fungi in the environment don’t usually make people ill; only a few can cause problems. Read to know more about the different types of fungal infections and gain insights into the diagnosis of fungal infections.

What Are The Types Of Fungal Infections?

Different types of fungal infections can affect the exterior layer of your skin, nails, or mucous membranes (known as superficial or mucocutaneous infections). They also reside below your skin (subcutaneous infections) or even take root within different organs, such as the lungs, brain, or heart and are referred to as deep infections. Let’s explore the diverse types of fungal infections in a comprehensive manner.

1. Superficial Fungal Infections

These infections affect the body’s outer layers, including nails, skin, and mucous membranes. Examples of this includes:

• Ringworm (dermatophytosis): Caused by dermatophytes, it includes various forms like athlete's foot, jock itch, and more.

• Onychomycosis: Fungal infection of fingernails or toenails, leading to discoloured and cracked nails.

• Candidiasis: Candida fungi cause skin and mucous membrane infections, including oral thrush and vaginal yeast infections.

• Tinea versicolor/pityriasis versicolor: Skin discolouration caused by the fungus Malassezia.

2. Subcutaneous Fungal Infections

These infections occur beneath the skin, often through cuts or wounds. They lead to rashes, ulcers, and other skin symptoms.

• Sporotrichosis (rose gardener’s disease) : Caused by Sporothrix fungus, often affecting gardeners and leading to ulcers.

• Chromoblastomycosis: Various fungi cause this chronic skin infection, occasionally spreading to other body parts.

• Eumycetoma: Affects our feet; it is caused by different fungi and results in nodules and ulcers.

3. Deep Fungal Infections

These infections affect internal organs and systems, posing more significant health risks and often requiring more intensive treatment.

• Histoplasmosis: Caused by Histoplasma fungus, it impacts lungs and other organs, prevalent in certain geographic areas.

• Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever): Caused by Coccidioides fungus, it usually affects the lungs and can spread to other areas.

• Blastomycosis: Blastomyces fungus causes infections in bones, skin, and lungs, with the potential to spread to the brain.

• Aspergillosis: Aspergillus mould leads to lung infections, sometimes involving other body parts or forming fungus balls.

• Candidal urinary tract infection: Certain yeast species, like Candida, can cause infections in the urinary tract.

• Mucormycosis: This group of fungi causes diverse infections, such as in the sinuses, lungs, intestines, or skin.

How is a fungal infection diagnosed?

Diagnosing fungal infection is conducted with a physical examination and after conversing about your symptoms. If you’re dealing with a fungal skin infection, your doctor might extract a skin scraping, a sample of hair, or a piece of nail to be analysed in a laboratory. This analysis aids in pinpointing the specific fungus responsible for the infection.

Diagnostic tests fungal infections

1. Skin or Nail Scraping

• Used for diagnosing surface-level skin or nail infections.

• Procedure: A small skin or nail sample is taken using a specialised tool. In certain cases, a skin biopsy might be required.

2. Swab Test

• Used for diagnosing fungal infections like yeast infections in the mouth, vagina, or specific skin infections.

• Procedure: A special swab collects tissue or fluid from the mouth, vagina, or open skin sore.

3. Blood Test

• Used to detect fungi in the blood, especially for severe fungal infections.

• Procedure: A healthcare professional takes a blood sample, often from a vein in the arm.

4. Urine Test

• Used for diagnosis of fungal infections like urinary infections and occasionally aiding in diagnosing vaginal yeast infections.

• Procedure: You have to provide a sterile urine sample as instructed by your healthcare provider.